Nationals tap into their power game to defeat Dodgers 7-3

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe hit two of Washington's five home runs and the Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-3 on Saturday night.

James Wood, CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. also went deep for the Nationals, who won a road game for the first time this month. They are 2-12 in their past 14 games overall.

Jake Irvin (6-3) worked around two homers and six hits in 5 1/3 innings to win for the first time in four starts. He struck out seven.

Three relievers held the Dodgers to one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings. Keibert Ruiz went 3 for 3 with a sacrifice fly for Washington.

Andy Pages, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández homered for the Dodgers, who dropped to 9-4 since June 8. Dustin May (4-5) gave up three home runs in six innings.

Wood and García connected on May's first two pitches in the fourth. Wood has a team-best 21 home runs, including four against the Dodgers in five games.

Los Angeles pulled to 2-1 in the fifth on Pages’ home run. Lowe went deep in the sixth and Smith homered in the bottom half to make it 3-2. Abrams launched a two-run drive off left-hander Jack Dreyer in the seventh for a 5-2 advantage.

Lowe’s solo shot in the eighth gave him his first multihomer game this season.

Smith's homer pulled the Dodgers to 3-2 in the sixth, but Irvin rebounded to strike out Hernández — the last batter he faced.

The Nationals have eight home runs in two games after they entered the series with 72, which ranked in the bottom third of MLB clubs.

Dodgers RHP Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 9.00 ERA) starts against Washington RHP Michael Soroka (3-5, 5.06) on Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May throws to a Washington Nationals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Washington Nationals' Jacob Young, right, slides into second base after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Washington Nationals pitcher Jake Irvin throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Washington Nationals' Jacob Young hits a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.

“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”

During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.

He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.

“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”

While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”

Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.

Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.

“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”

He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)